Safety powder-can.



H. F. HEUMANN,

SAFETY POWDER CAN. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16. 1915.

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Application filed June 16, 1915.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that l, HENRY F. HEUMANN, citizen of the United States, residing at Percy, in thecounty of Randolph and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Safety Pow'der Can, of which the following is a specification.

This'invention relates to an improvement in safety powder cans, and the object is to providemeans for discharging the powder firom a can or receptacle into cartridges without danger of spilling the powder or overfiliing the cartridge.

The invention is intended more particularly for use by coal miners, and the object is to provide a can which may be conveniently used for the purpose of filling cartridges without dan er of explosion.

A further object is in the provision of a valve for con'trollin'g the discharge of the powder from the receptacle. This valve is.

preferably made {of copper for the purpose of eliminating friction which might produde 'asp'ark and cause an explosion of the powder.

The invention consists of certain novel features of coi'istructi'on and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described 'aiid pointed out in the claims. It is evident that many slight changes be made in the form and arrangement of the several parts to be described, without departing from the spirit and scopebf the invention,'and hence I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction herein set forth.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is aperspective View of a can embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view. 1

F 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line of Fig. 2.

Fig. ,4: is an enlargeddetail sectional View on theline M of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the cover.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the valve.

A represents the receptacle or can, which is provided with an opening 1 in the side wallther'eof. Extending from the Wall of the can, and around the opening, are a plurality of plates, an upper plate 2, bottom plate 3 "ahd side pl'ates 4, all of which are substantially triangular in form, and taper outwardly from the receptacle A. The edges Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee. d, 1l5 1l7.

Serial No. 34,457".

of the upper plate 2 are connected to the '2, and 'at the juncture between the upper end of the plate 2 and the wall A, is a curved or coi' caved strip 6. The terminals of the strip 6 are connected to the sides a. Connected to the lower edge of the inetal strip 6 is a downwardly inclined plate 7, the ends of the plate being connected to the sides A. Slidably mounted against the inner face of the upper plate 2, and above the strip 6 and the inner plate 7, is a valve or slide 8. The lower terminal of the valve is directed obliquely into the inner end of the spoilt 5, owing to the inclined position of the upper wall or plate 2 of the hopper, for the purpose of closing the spout to prevent the discharge bf powder fromthe can A. An elongated slot 9 is formed in the upper plate 2. A knob 10 is provided with a stem 11, which passes through the elongated slot 9 0f the upper "plate 2 and through the valve 8. A nut 12 is screwed upon the inner end of the stem and binds against the lower face ofthe valve 8 for fastening the same'to the stem. The valve is reciprocated by sliding the knob 10 against the outer side or the hopper for opening and closing the spout The valve 8 passes through an opening formed between the terminals of the upper plate and the inner plate.

7 The valve 8 is preferably made of copper for the purpose of eliminating any friction which might produce a spark and ignite the powder thereby causing an explosion.

closure therefor, the section 14 of the cover being rigidly held to the receptacle or can A, and the section 15 is hinged to the section 14. hinged section 15 of the cover is adaptedto be supported on lugs 16, formed on the 111- ner wall of the receptacle or can A below the upper edge of the can.

A projection 17 is formed on the upper edge of the can or receptacle, and pro ects inwardly. A slot or notch 18 is formed in the edge of the cover section 15, through which the projection 17 passes as the cover section is moved to its closed position and upon the lugs 16.

A pivoted latch 19 is connected to the section 15, and one edge of the latch is adapted to be inserted beneath the projection 17 for fastening the cover section 15 in closed position.

Ears 20 are connected to the wall of the can or'receptacle A, and connected to the ears is a bail 21 for use in carrying the receptacle or can from one destination to another.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a can or receptacle in which powder can be placed for the purpose of filling cartridges, and the like, Without danger of overfilling the shells or spilling the powder. The valve 8 is in a position to be easily and quickly operated so that the discharge of the powder from the. receptacle may be easily controlled.

The bail 21 admits of the easy carrying of the can in upright position, and as the hopper and spout project laterally from the can, the can may bereasily set down upon a flat surface, will be maintained from tilting over by its flat bottom, and may be easily lifted for transportation. The provision of the rigid handle 13 on the opposite side of the can to that from which the hopper and nozzle project, admits of the quick lifting and tilting of the can, and the ready application "of the spout to the cartridge.

The general practice employed by miners in filling shells or cartridges is to pour the powder directly from the original container into the cartridges or shells. This is very unsatisfactory because there is danger V of spilling the powder and overfilling the cartridges. With the present invention the powder can be transferred from the powder keg or container to the can or receptacle A by raising the cover section 15, and after the can or receptacle has been filled the cover can be lowered and held in closed position by the latch 19, and the receptacle will then be ready for filling cartridges, shells and the like.

The strip 6 and the inclined plate 7 form a guard on the inside of the hopper. This guard is spaced inwardly from the top wall of the hopper and completely incloses the 'valve 8 to keep the powder away from the valve. By the use of this guard, the valve 8 may be shifted back and forth to open and The outer or free end of the close itwithout frictional contact with the powder, and without danger of igniting the same.

It will also be noted that the valve 8 is slidably mounted against the top wall of the hopper, which top wall is inclined outwardly and downwardly. This mounting of the valve directs its lower closing end into a downwardly and forwardly inclined position in the inner end of the spout 5 when the valve 8 is closed, so that the valve constitutes practically a continuation of the top wall of the hopper.

\Vhen the can A is full of powder, the latter fills the hopper and presses against the valve 8. As the valve is opened the powder gr-avitates through the hopper and outwardly through the spout 5 beneath the valve 8. This pouring of the powder outwardly through the spout 5 without tilting the can ispermitted by the pyramidal shape of the hopper which substantially merges into the top, the bottom and the sides of the can, and the inclined position of the valve.

What is claimed is,

1. A safety powder can having a supporting bottom and an open side, four plates projecting outwardly from the marginal edges of said open side and each being of substantially triangular form, the plates being secured together along their meeting edges and converging to a point substantially midway between the top and bottom of the can, the top and bottom plates leading from points adjacent the top and bottom of the can and the side plates converging from the opposite rounded sides of the can and constituting substantially continuations of the same, a spout connected at it inner end to the converging outer ends of the plates, said plates and spout completing a pyramidal hopper which closes the open slde of the can and is in communication with the interior of the latter, said hopper extending from the transverse center of the can nearly to the top and bottom thereof, and a valve slidably mounted upon the top plate and thereby set in an inclined position and extending into the spout to close communication with the can, and a guard secured to the side and top plates and extending across and in spaced relation from and in rear of the valve and the top plate to form a top wall for the hopper and keep the powder away from the valve.

2. A safety powder can having a supporting bottom and an open side, four plates projecting outwardly from the marginal edges of said open side and each being of substantially triangular form, the plates being secured together along their meeting edges and converging to a point substantially midway between the top and bottom of the can, the top and bottom plates leading from points adjacent the top and bottom of the can and the side plates converging from the opposite rounded sides of the can and constituting substantially continuations of the same, a spout connected at its inner end to the converging outer ends of the plates, said plates and spout completing a pyramidal hopper which closes the open side of the can and is in cominunieation with the interior of the latter, said hopper extending from the transverse center of the can nearly to the top and bottom thereof, and a valve slidably mounted upon the top plate and thereby set in an inclined position and extending into the spout to close communication with the can, a

curved strip connecting the side plates in rear of the top plate, and an inclined plate secured between the side plates in rear of the top plate and extending forwardly and downwardly from the lower edge of the curved strip to which it is secured, said strip and said inclined plate providing a guard spaced from the top plate of the hopper to house the valve, and prevent contact of the powder therewith, and to direct the powder downwardly into the spout, whereby when the valve is open the powder may gravitate from the upper end of the can into the spout.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY F. HEUMANN.

Witnesses:

EDD. BRUEGGEMAN, WILLIAM HAELFERS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washmmen, D, Q. I 

